Bangladesh has been selected for a two-year collaborative project on strengthening preparedness and response to Covid-19 and other emerging infectious diseases (EIDs).
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) signed an agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Tuesday at Malaysian Red Crescent national headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, nominating the IFRC as the Project Implementing Agency (PIA) for the collaborative project worth $10 million in Bangladesh and four other partner countries.
The project aims at strengthening preparedness and response to Covid-19 and other EIDs.
The fund is part of the Japan’s contribution to the Stockpile Project for Covid-19 Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) in Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) countries.
Utilizing this fund, the IFRC and National Societies will implement the Stockpile Project in close connection with the public authorities in five partner countries, namely Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Philippines through a structured set of activities.
In selecting those five countries, the IFRC prioritized countries at risk of disasters caused by natural hazards, the effects of which have been made worse by climate change, resulting also in high risk of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases, the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur said.
Acting high commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khastagir was present during the ceremony.
He expected that this project would play an effective role in improving the healthcare landscape, response mechanisms and greater access to health services in Bangladesh.